Hyatt expands Grubhub service to more US hotels

Sarah Brodsky

Sep 15, 2017

Last month, Hyatt Centric announced that it is expanding its partnership with Grubhub to a total of nine properties located in California, Florida, Utah, New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Virginia, and Texas. Hyatt Centric’s pilot program, which allows guests to order room service from local restaurants, launched in 2016 with three hotels.

Through this partnership, guests can select dishes from local restaurants via a website. The ordering website is linked to from the dining page on the Hyatt Centric website, and the hotels also notify guests of the URL and print it on the keycard inserts guests receive when they arrive. When the food is ready, Grubhub delivers it.

Hyatt Centric said it partnered with Grubhub to give guests more options when they order food and that another advantage of the program is that it enables guests to enjoy local cuisine right from their hotel rooms. It also cited convenience as one of the program’s benefits for guests. The brand has called its collaboration with Grubhub a success and states that the decision to expand the program was based on positive feedback from guests.

Hyatt Centric employees choose the restaurants guests can order from. In an emailed statement, Sandra Cordova Micek, Senior Vice President of Global Brands at Hyatt said the restaurants were chosen “to showcase a variety of the best local culinary offerings, hand-picked for their quick delivery service, menu variety, and food options that reflect local culture. These recommendations typically focus on restaurants offering lunch and dinner, with at least one late-night restaurant option available.” Hyatt Centric named several restaurants as guests’ favorites, including Bodega Taqueria and Tequila, Bangkok Thai on Main, Estia Restaurant, Silk Road, and Arlington Rooftop and Grill.

The program does not replace Hyatt Centric’s existing room service; instead, it expands the available options. Hyatt Centric calls its in-room ordering program Restaurant To Go. In addition to the Grubhub offerings, guests can order from the hotel’s own restaurants. Guests may also choose from the brand’s 24/7 Express Menus, which list items that are available within 20 minutes.

“Our collaboration with Grubhub not only provides a service addressing the Hyatt Centric guest need, but also helps to showcase local cuisine and restaurants in the area,” Cordova Micek said. “Since we highlight local favorites selected by our colleagues, guests are able to discover new and unique culinary options and ‘hidden gems’ that are a true reflection of the destination.”

Cordova Micek noted that the service may be offered at additional locations if performs well. “Further expansion is certainly possible depending on the continued success of the program,” she said.

Hyatt Centric is a boutique brand that launched in January 2015 and that focuses on millennial travelers and highlights local attractions and local food. Its properties feature work by local artists; they also provide accommodations such as Bluetooth-enabled electronics, salon-grade blow dryers, meeting spaces, and a health studio.